Google Glass: First impressions

Google Glass may usher in the era of wearable computing, but based on my first few days, this is a long way from being a mass market product.

On Friday, ten months after signing up to join Google's Glass Explorer program at Google I/O 2012, I received my invitation to purchase and pick up Google Glass.

The invitation directed me to call an 800 number, to agree to Google's unprecedentedly restrictive terms of service and to choose a color: Charcoal, Tangerine, Shale, Cotton or Sky. For the fashion-challenged, that translates to: black, orange, gray, white or light blue.

I opted for black because it goes with everything and it's less likely to attract attention, which appears to be difficult to avoid if you wear Glass in public.

I can see the technology eventually evolving into a very useful tool for people who deal with dangerous conditions. Being able to stream video of an accident or robbery in progress would be quite useful.
As for the general public, it might eventually become useful, but the price and dork effect might slow adoption.

The largest obstacle for Glass to overcome isn't technological, it's social. As the author pointed out, pointing a camera at strangers in public is often unwelcome. In another article I read by a Glass early adopter, the issue of wearing Glass when entering a public restroom was mentioned. In her case, she decided to park them above her forehead, as people often do with sunglasses when indoors, so it would be clear to anyone that she wasn't actively wearing them or using them in that situation.

I think the dork factor Erebus mentioned can't be minimized. This is a bit like those earpod telephones. Screams dork. (In fact, haven't those diminished of late?)
Some kind of wearable computer will no doubt happen. But honestly, I'm not sure most out there are ready to look like the Borg in Star Trek?